Commission warns new technology threatens human biological integrity

Published: 2004-09-20

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- In a new document on the created world, the International Theological Commission warned that science and technology today offer the dangerous ability to "alter man himself" and destroy the biological integrity of human beings. The document said the biblical call to "stewardship" over the natural environment extends in a special way to safeguarding human life, which is created in God's image. This understanding clearly rules out human cloning, destruction of embryos, genetic enhancement, abortion or euthanasia, it said. The 46-page document, titled "Communion and Stewardship: Human Persons Created in the Image of God," was obtained by Catholic News Service in mid-September. The International Theological Commission is headed by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the Vatican's chief doctrinal official. In discussing people's relationship with creation, the document emphasized Christian teachings against unrestrained economic development and environmental damage. It also addressed evolution, saying evolutionary explanations of biological development were acceptable as long as they did not exclude God as a transcendent cause or exclude the universe as a setting for "a radically personal drama" involving God and man.

Copyright (c) 2004 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .